OVER 470 days since VicTrack told him it owned part of his Wodonga property, Rodger Winch remains in a stand-off with the rail body.
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The Mount Isa heavy roller driver has been visiting his rented home in Huon Street and spoke to The Border Mail on Thursday about the saga.
"It's devalued my property and until it gets put to bed I've got to live with a lower-valued property which is going to affect all sorts of financial concerns, but I'm not in a hurry to chase it," Mr Winch said
After arguing the matter, Mr Winch said he had proposed to VicTrack he would lease the land, which cuts across his front porch, subject to a key point.
"I offered to take up a lease in the immediate term to sort out legal access entitlements for their benefit with the condition, if and when it's proved I have a legitimate claim I get a refund," he said.
Mr Winch said he had not heard from VicTrack since putting that offer forward last summer.
"They've only produced an out of date map and they haven't looked to any of my documentation," he said.
"My guess is they've realised it's not worth chasing financially."
VicTrack responded on Thursday to questions arising from Mr Winch's comments with a brief statement.
"We continue to want to reach a resolution in conjunction with Mr Winch, and we have contacted him to discuss the options for him to lease or buy the land," it said.
Mr Winch has previously said his ownership of the entire block had been accepted by Wodonga Council and he had paid rates on that basis.
"The only positive in the short term, because of the devaluation of the property, is that my rates will be reduced," he said yesterday.
A challenge to rating the full site has been made and Mr Winch expects a rebate.
The current Queenslander anticipates residing in the Huon Street abode in the future.
"I expect one day to move back into the house," Mr Winch said.
"It was kept so we had somewhere to move back to.
"We're currently renting a house in Mount Isa and one day it will be time to come back and have a place to stay."
The house, believed to be built in the 1950s, was bought in 1993 by Mr Winch and has been rented to the same tenant for the last 18 years.
His plan to retain it means the ownership wrangle involving VicTrack may not get tested anytime soon.
VicTrack outlined its belief it owns a triangle of Mr Winch's property after reviewing its ownership of land across Wodonga dating to 1883.
Mr Winch said he received a concession from VicTrack in relation to the original letter that urged him to act on its calls within two weeks.
"They recognised it was poorly handled or it could have been handled a little better than the way it came across," he said.
VicTrack is a corporation owned by the government.